Is childbirth really the worst?

Before I had my baby, everyone told me horror stories about their labors and deliveries and assured me that childbirth was the worst pain anyone could go through. Now having been through it, and six months post partum, I'm not so sure. I'd rather go through childbirth any day than have my fingernails ripped off, I definitely think that would be worse. I get that pain is pretty subjective and different situations can increase or decrease discomfort but to say its the worst pain imaginable is pretty far fetched for me. What do you think? Pain scales are so difficult to discuss. My brother is definitive that his 16 hour shifts on the oil rig are worse than childbirth, but how can one really say/believe that without having done both?

Before I had my baby, everyone told me horror stories about their labors and deliveries and assured me that childbirth was the worst pain anyone could go through. Now having been through it, and six months post partum, I'm not so sure. I'd rather go through childbirth any day than have my fingernails ripped off, I definitely think that would be worse. I get that pain is pretty subjective and different situations can increase or decrease discomfort but to say its the worst pain imaginable is pretty far fetched for me. What do you think? Pain scales are so difficult to discuss. My brother is definitive that his 16 hour shifts on the oil rig are worse than childbirth, but how can one really say/believe that without having done both?

I think it depends on the type of birth you had. 9 months pp, I still think childbirth was the absolute most painful thing I have ever went through. Mind you though, mine was not run of the mill. I gave birth in a hospital that was just switching to a new building, so they had NO pain drugs to offer me, and couldn't give me a c-section like I needed. I was in hard labour for 40 hours (starting with contractions every 3 mins for at least 30 of those hours, then 4 hours of one on top of another), and in the end my doctor had to go in with forceps and... Lets just leave it at I had severe 4th degree tears and my daughter had a broken collar bone and severe nerve damage. But then again I've had friends that said after they had their epidural, it was all fun and games. Who knows. I doubt I'll have any more children to make the comparison.

I think it depends on the type of birth you had. 9 months pp, I still think childbirth was the absolute most painful thing I have ever went through. Mind you though, mine was not run of the mill. I gave birth in a hospital that was just switching to a new building, so they had NO pain drugs to offer me, and couldn't give me a c-section like I needed. I was in hard labour for 40 hours (starting with contractions every 3 mins for at least 30 of those hours, then 4 hours of one on top of another), and in the end my doctor had to go in with forceps and... Lets just leave it at I had severe 4th degree tears and my daughter had a broken collar bone and severe nerve damage. But then again I've had friends that said after they had their epidural, it was all fun and games. Who knows. I doubt I'll have any more children to make the comparison.

I had it the same, anyone and everyone was telling me how horrible it was, how they "almost died" sorry but I don't think everyone almost dies during birth. Then I went to have mine and it was easy as pie. People like to scare you for some reason.

I had it the same, anyone and everyone was telling me how horrible it was, how they "almost died" sorry but I don't think everyone almost dies during birth. Then I went to have mine and it was easy as pie. People like to scare you for some reason.

I don't know....I just had my 2nd C-section and was admitted at midnight the night before it was scheduled having contractions. It was the longest most painful night of my life. They were coming anywhere from 5-10 minutes and I could hardly stand it....and I didn't actually really labor so I think it's got to be pretty rough. I thought I was pretty tough but maybe I'm really a wuss?

I don't know....I just had my 2nd C-section and was admitted at midnight the night before it was scheduled having contractions. It was the longest most painful night of my life. They were coming anywhere from 5-10 minutes and I could hardly stand it....and I didn't actually really labor so I think it's got to be pretty rough. I thought I was pretty tough but maybe I'm really a wuss?

I'm not one for fear-mongering though. I do not tell my story to expecting moms and stuff like that. I just had bad luck, and a very bad doctor that wanted to play golf instead of transfer me to a hospital that could help me.

I'm not one for fear-mongering though. I do not tell my story to expecting moms and stuff like that. I just had bad luck, and a very bad doctor that wanted to play golf instead of transfer me to a hospital that could help me.

I've been through four childbirth experiences with no pain meds but lots of pitocin. I've had kidney stones. I have had epidural injections for back pain with no anesthesia (allergic). None of that was as painful as good ol nerve pain. That has me rolling around in a fetal position in tears. I'd take childbirth any day over nerve pain.

I also have a high pain tolerance and run marathons for fun.

I've been through four childbirth experiences with no pain meds but lots of pitocin. I've had kidney stones. I have had epidural injections for back pain with no anesthesia (allergic). None of that was as painful as good ol nerve pain. That has me rolling around in a fetal position in tears. I'd take childbirth any day over nerve pain.

My contractions started out 3 minutes apart and quickly progressed to being one right after another. It was pretty bad. I was going to have a natural birth but I couldn't do it. At all. I wouldn't say it was painful enough to feel like I was dying though.

My contractions started out 3 minutes apart and quickly progressed to being one right after another. It was pretty bad. I was going to have a natural birth but I couldn't do it. At all. I wouldn't say it was painful enough to feel like I was dying though.

Childbirth is absolutely the worst pain I've ever experienced, and I think it will be the worst ever for most women--you'd have to be pretty unlucky to have a more painful experience. I don't think that means its the most painful thing in the world, though.

Childbirth is absolutely the worst pain I've ever experienced, and I think it will be the worst ever for most women--you'd have to be pretty unlucky to have a more painful experience. I don't think that means its the most painful thing in the world, though.

This is what I mean, was your childbirth experience so bad that you would rather, say, get your kneecaps busted than do it again? I did not have an easy labor, was induced with pitocin and no pain meds. I called my mother at one point and told her I was pretty sure I was going to die from the pain. I know though at that point if someone had said to me, "we could make all the pain go away in an instant in exchange for poking your eye with a needle..." I would have trucked on with my labor. When my friends ask (I have three who are pregnant right now) I simply tell them I'd rather go through childbirth than be shot in the leg. I guess it's hard to say though because I don't find pain to be imaginable. I couldn't *really say* being shot would be worse, because I've never been shot...

This is what I mean, was your childbirth experience so bad that you would rather, say, get your kneecaps busted than do it again? I did not have an easy labor, was induced with pitocin and no pain meds. I called my mother at one point and told her I was pretty sure I was going to die from the pain. I know though at that point if someone had said to me, "we could make all the pain go away in an instant in exchange for poking your eye with a needle..." I would have trucked on with my labor. When my friends ask (I have three who are pregnant right now) I simply tell them I'd rather go through childbirth than be shot in the leg. I guess it's hard to say though because I don't find pain to be imaginable. I couldn't *really say* being shot would be worse, because I've never been shot...

When I was 21 I had some gastrointestinal issues (never diagnosed after two hospital stays). That pain was worse than labor pain, so for me labor was not the most painful experience I've endured. It's a close second.

When I was 21 I had some gastrointestinal issues (never diagnosed after two hospital stays). That pain was worse than labor pain, so for me labor was not the most painful experience I've endured. It's a close second.

I had a great labor and delivery. My epidural was a godsend, it was all smooth sailing after that. The hour of pitocin induced contractions before my epidural was hell though, I did not enjoy that. Once I was numb I took a nap and ate a Popsicle and a few hours late baby was here.

I had a great labor and delivery. My epidural was a godsend, it was all smooth sailing after that. The hour of pitocin induced contractions before my epidural was hell though, I did not enjoy that. Once I was numb I took a nap and ate a Popsicle and a few hours late baby was here.

I labored from 5:00am until 12:00am the following day at home, then transferred to the hospital. My epidural did not take, so I birthed my DD naturally at 6:50am on day two. After all of that I am pretty sure labor was not that bad. I have endo, and that pain is excruciating. I passed out from endo pain.

I labored from 5:00am until 12:00am the following day at home, then transferred to the hospital. My epidural did not take, so I birthed my DD naturally at 6:50am on day two. After all of that I am pretty sure labor was not that bad. I have endo, and that pain is excruciating. I passed out from endo pain.

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